Reenforcing means for brief bags and similar cases



May 11 1926.

B. URBAND REENFORCING MEANS FOR BRIEF BAGS AND SIMILAR CASES Filed July 28. 1924 Z221, I A

g'vwentoz .3. Frawri Patented May 11,1926.

UNH'E STAT BENTON URBAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REENFORGING MEANS FOR BRIEF BAGS AND SIMILAR CASES.

Application filed July 28,

This invention relates generally to brief bags and similar flexible material cases, the invention relating specifirally to a reenforcing means for the corners of the bag proper and the corners of the closure flaps therefor, for preventing the curling or bending of the corners which will necessitate repairs to the bags or the discarding of the same.

The primary object of my invention resides in the provision of such a reenforcing means that may be incorporated in the bag or other case, during the manufacture of the same, and this without constituting an increase in the cost, of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a reenforcing means that constitutes strips of sheet metal to be dis posed in the corners of the bag, for accomlishing the above expedients. I lVith the foregoing and other objects in A view, as the nature of the invention will be better understood, the same comprises the novel form of reenforcing means for brief bags and similar flexible material cases hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional form of brief bag, constructed with my improved reenforcing means, portions of the bag being broken away for more clearlydisclosing the position of the reenforcing means.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the inside of the bag closure flap, the edge of which is provided with a leather strengthening strip, a portion of which is removed for more clearly disclosing one of the corner reenforcing means between said reenforcing strip and the flap proper.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the corner reenforcing members employed by me, and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially upon the line 1-4 of Figure 1 for more clearly disclosing the position of one of the bag proper corner reenforcing strips between the strips of material comprising the bag.

Now having particular reference to the drawing, 5 indicates the conventional form of leather brief bag, it being of course clearly understood that I do not wish to limit myself to such an application of the present 1924. Serial No. 7,2 8,666.

invention as my improved reenforcing means may be equally as well employed in con junction with pocket books and other leather and flexible material cases analogous to brief bags, pocket books, etc.

As is well known in the art, some brief bags consist of a single compartment, and in this instance the bag is constructed .of two sections of leather or other flexilematerial stitched together at their edges at three sides thereof and also adjacent the edges of the same three sides. In other brief bags havinga multiplicity of compartments,,the same are formed of three or more strips of materials, the ends and bottom edges of which are joined together by strips of ma terial disposed intermediate said first mentioned strips at their ends, which latter mentioned strips are also stitched to the first mentioned strips around three edges and stitched thereto at points adjacent said edges. i

In the present instance, 6 designates the facing strip of the brief bag and 7 the backing ly secured together at their. ends and lower edges through the medium of stitching 8,

directly at their edges, and also through the medium of other stitches 9, in spaced relation to the edges.

. My corner reenforcing means constitutes the provision of a strip of stiff metal 10, that in this instance is of curvilinear form, as more clearly showniin Figures 1 and 8, this form ofstrip being obviously employed when the corners of the bag are rounded. The opposite ends of this strip'are provided with openings 11, for a purpose hereinafter more fully described. In the manufacture of a brief bag'or like article, the lowermost corners of the bag are provided with the strips, the same being disposed at the corners intermediate the rows of stitches 8 and 9. These strips being maintained against movement between the front and backing strips 6 and 7 through the medium of rivet-s 12 as clearly shown in Figure 1.

It is of shape of these to agree with corners.

Now referring particularly to the reenforcing means for the corners of the bag closure flap, 13 designates said closure flaps and upon the inner side thereof at its forcourse to be understood that the metal strips 10 may be varied the shape of the brief bag strip thereof, which strips are rigid- I ends of these strips 17 are also provided Ward edge is a horizontally extending strengthening strip 14 of leather or other suitable material that is secured to the bag through the medium of rows of stitches 15 and 16 at the opposite longitudinal edges of said strip 14:. Between said strengthening strip let and the material of the flap 13 at the rounded corners thereof are metal strips 17 of a shape to conform to the curvature of the corners of said flap which generally is that shown in the drawing. The

with openings in order that they may be riveted at 18 between the strip 14: and said ap material, it being noted that these matallic strips 17 are also disposed intermediate the stitchings l5 and 16 between saidstrengthening strip 14 and the flap material.

It is to be particularly noted in the construction of the brief bag with the improved corner structure of this invention that the strip 10 has ears of arcuate form in which the side edges lie in concentric are and that the curve of the corner portions is on a substantially long radius in order to eliminate a small corner area on the bag at which point.

the major portion of all impacts, stresses or strains are applied and which tend in the ordinary bag to cause the corner portions to curl which strains the stitches as well as wears the same due to the curling under of the corners, which causes this portion of the bag to soon' wear out in addition to the stitches becoming broken before the remaining portion of the bag shows any appreciable wear. 7

The corner construction of this invention furthermore in rounding the corners, and providing the arcuate strips 10 between the parallel rows of stitches and the two substantially heavy plies of material which are substantially equal in thickness, provides a corner structure wherein the strips 10 will receive the stresses applied to the bag in the corner portions and to distribute the same over a substantially large corner area of the bag in order to reduce the wear thereon.

This reduction of wear will result from the arcuate strip 10 preventing the curling of the plies of material at the corner so that stresses will be applied to the edge portions of the material and as a result the exposed portions of the stitches will not directly receive the wear, While the rounded edges of the strip lying in concentric relation to the stitches will not have a tendency to cut or place an undue strain thereon, but in contradistinction will distribute stresses applied at different parts of the corner structure throughout the entire corner area.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

Corner structures for flexible brief bags comprising two plies of substantially heavy material of equal thickness rounded on a substantially large arc merging at the ends of the arcuate portion into the sides of the bag, spaced parallel rows of stitching eX- tending in arcuate relation around the corner portion and along said sides joining said plies of material together, and an arcuate metal strip member having the edges extending in concentric arcs, said member being mounted between said plies and said rows of stitching and of the same arcuate configuration as. said corner, the ends of said members terminating at the ends of the arcuate corner portions, and means fastening the ends of the strip members to said plies of material, whereby said strip member willdistribute stresses at the corner portion over a substantial portion of the adjacent area of the bag to reduce wear on the material and stitching, and prevent curling thereof.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

BENTON URBAN D. 

